Childhood trauma can affect a child's emotional, behavioral, and developmental well-being. From adverse experiences to sudden life changes, trauma can leave lasting imprints on a child's mind and body, influencing their ability to navigate the world around them.

Unresolved trauma can manifest in various ways, impacting a child's ability to form healthy relationships, concentrate in school, and regulate their emotions. Many people don’t realize that in addition to emotional distress, trauma also affects the sensory system. A trauma-informed pediatric occupational therapist is uniquely positioned to address these sensory challenges. 

The understanding of the sensory system and how individuals process sensory information has changed dramatically over the past few decades.  At Come Play, we frequently see children with sensory processing differences, and we’ve witnessed a growing realization among adults – sometimes, they too may be grappling with sensory challenges.

Many of these adults realize their sensory differences after having kids, while others are referred to us by other providers. At Come Play, our Occupational Therapists are skilled in working with both adults and children who see, hear, and experience the world differently.

Your child can easily compute complex mathematical equations, but can’t seem to remember to put their shoes on. They learned to read without instruction at three years old, but struggle with building and maintaining friendships. These “smart but scattered” children are often overlooked by the educational system, who may not understand how to best support them.

Welcome to the world of twice-exception (2e) children, where brilliance and struggles coexist. If you are lucky enough to have one of these incredible children, you know the unique challenges that come along with raising them. 

In this article, we’ll explain what twice-exceptional means and provide some practical tips for supporting your 2e kiddo!

Exciting news – Come Play, STL is now offering support for Charter Schools in the St. Louis area! If you're looking for qualified, experienced, and professional IEP Eligibility Testing and ongoing caseload management, you're in the right place.

At Come Play, we're all about helping kids grow in every way. We've got a team of experts in pediatric therapy, and now we're bringing our know-how to Charter Schools. We understand the unique needs you have when it comes to ongoing testing and caseload management for your students. In this article, we’ll highlight our most recent partnership with Lafayette Preparatory Academy, and share how we can help streamline and simplify your school’s IEP management.

All parents are busy, and for those with children facing developmental, social, or emotional difficulties, the added pressure of fitting in your child's therapies can seem daunting and time-consuming. After all, you have other children, after-school activities, and homework to manage, not to mention dinner! It can feel like a lot to manage your child’s therapies, school work, social life, and general well-being when you are running a busy household. 

At Come Play, we see and respect parents who are truly doing it all. Our goal is to help your child reach their therapy goals in a timely and efficient manner, so they can move on to all of the amazing things ahead! 

That's where the concept of back-to-back therapy sessions comes in. In this blog, we’ll explore the advantages of this approach, from therapeutic benefits to ease of scheduling and efficiency.

No one child is the same. At Come Play, we understand the unique needs of each child and offer a range of treatment options to support their growth and progress. Whether your child could benefit from one single therapy or multiple therapies, we’ve got you covered every step of the way.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at the various therapies and services we provide, designed to meet the diverse needs of children and their families.

When kids face developmental, social, emotional, or academic challenges, it can affect them in a variety of different ways. For example, sensory sensitivities can impact a child’s physical well-being, emotional state, and social interactions. Because of this, children benefit from an approach that addresses both the root cause of their challenges as well as provides support and strategies to help them thrive in all areas of their life.

At Come Play, we firmly believe in the power of combining various disciplines, such as Occupational Therapy and Play Therapy, to provide comprehensive care for your child.

In this article, we will explore why your child benefits from a multidisciplinary model, focusing on both diagnosis and treatment.

As parents, we cherish the joy and wonder of watching our children grow and develop. Sometimes, our children hit milestones in different ways or at other times than we expected, or face unforeseen developmental, academic, or social challenges. In such moments, it's natural to wonder how we can best support them on their unique journey.

At Come Play, we recognize the importance of providing children with the tools and opportunities they need to flourish. That's why we firmly believe in the power of multidisciplinary evaluations—a comprehensive and collaborative approach that leads to a further understanding of your child and how to help them reach their full potential. 

It's only natural to be concerned when you notice something different or challenging about your child's behavior. It can be overwhelming to try to figure out how to help them, especially when you feel like you need professional intervention. If only our kids came with manuals, life would be so much easier!

At Come Play, we are here to help kids and their families thrive in their academic, social, and home lives. We believe in thorough evaluations in order to properly and effectively treat not only the symptoms your child is experiencing, but the underlying cause of those symptoms. 

When I think about Come Play, my mind immediately gravitates toward the individual children we serve. It's difficult not to get teary-eyed when reflecting on the profound impact we have on the lives of these young individuals. Come Play is not just another therapy center; it is a place where children's needs are understood, catered to, and nurtured throughout their unique developmental journeys.

Children, like all of us, experience seasons of growth and change. At different stages of their lives, they require different services to thrive, whether it be play therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or other specialized interventions.